Dorset part one - Lulworth castle and Weymouth

Here is the first of my posts with photos from Dorset, I didn't realise we had taken so many so have had to do it in several goes.

We visited Lulworth castle which was actually burnt down in 1929 so the interior has completey gone. It would have been a lovely hunting lodge inside, as the outside is so grand. It was a bit hair raising walking up to the top carrying Evie, and we were all pleased to get down!


There is a farm you can visit on site and we saw lots of lovely animals including..

...this wonderful peacock (as well as a dozen others)

some ponies,

and some cute and furry alpacas.

there was a cute little seat outside the farm and I had to try it out with Leah.

This is fun!

I was also a bit naughtly so got sent to the stocks. As you can see I was not amused!

Leah was having lots of fun running about and being cheeky, then fell over and grazed her knees.

She was not happy as you can see, bless her.

We had a day out in Weymouth at the end of the week and the weather was glorious. At the end of the promenade we found the mini fun fair and Leah had fun on the rides.

She liked the safari jeep the best.....

....and we even had a ride on a magical carousel.

Finally we had a stroll along the beach, although the sand was pretty hot. Poor Evie had to watch from her pushchair. She'll be able to join in soon!

What a busy weekend!

We had a busy but enjoyable weekend this week. First we went to the Essex Country Show at Barleylands Farm in Billericay.

It turned out really warm and we had a great day. It was just a shame we didn't get to see it all in one day.

Sunday Richard and I did a boot sale to raise some much needed holiday funds and to make a bit of room for our new arrival who is due early February next year. We made a good profit and I actually enjoyed myself.

This year I gave myself a treat and held an owl. She was a European Eagle owl and weighs about 9lb (without feathers) so I was told. She had the most beautiful orange eyes and I even stroked her chest - but very carefully!

Here are a few pics from Saturday.

Leah and I enjoyed a ride on the carousel and she smiled the whole time!

There were lots of draught horses pulling traditional ploughs in the field, so here are a few of my favourites.

This one was called Ben and he even turned to the camera when I called him!

The Essex Country show - part three - the machines!

Finally I wanted to show you some of the steam engines and other vehicles they had on display. Richard said I was a geek for taking photos of these, but I didn't really care!


This was the first one I saw and thought it was a rather nice specimen to show on my blog...

and this one was working to do something with straw - not quite sure what - but I'm sure it was useful!

There was some power taking place- where a very powerful tractor like thing (the best description I can think of) has to pull another as far as it can without the engine blowing (you should smell it at the end!) They were really noisy but quite amusing to watch. Its quite difficult to explain exactly, but you get the idea..

here it is being hooked up just before the ploughing takes place...the second truck has a blade type thing at the front, which digs in the further it gets pulled, making it more difficult to pull along..

...and finally some cool American (or American style) trucks which looked great all lined up together.
Richard liked the yellow one best I think :o)

The Essex Country show - part two....

As well as looking at the animals and the displays they took part in, in the main arena, there were also lots of other things to do.


Leah has never been on a carousel before, so I was a good Mummy and went on with her (she kept pointing at it for ages - so we got the hint).

It was a little faster than ones I have been on before, and Leah was ok for a while - then got a bit worried! She didn't actually cry at all, but got a bit unsettled - the brave little girl!

I also had the opportunity to hold a beautiful snowy owl (the males are more white all over so I was told).

You had to make a small donation to hold a small owl - so when I asked the man which one I wanted to hold he said any one within reason. So I chose this beauty - and even stroked her chest! I was a bit worried she'd eat my finger, but luckily she didn't :o)

Richard had a try at electronic clay pigeon shooting - he did pretty well for a first attempt, especially as he's never tried the real thing (in real clay pigeon shooting the clays are small discs shot out by a machine - no birds are hurt at all!)

The Essex Country show - part one - the animals....

Today we went to the Essex Country Show at Barleylands farm in Billericay with my Mum and Dad. We haven't been for years, so it was a great day out and we saw lots of great crafts, events, steam engines and animals!

Here are a few of them...

...a lovely sheep (I just ADORE) them!.....

....these two calves were really cute and they liked to be stroked. We just about avoided being licked by them - those tongues are massive!

We had to have our photo taken by this sweet donkey, although I don't think he was that bothered about it!

We saw some lovely sheep on show.....

... this ram was one of my favourites....

...and a few more in their pen.....

...one of the heavy horses in his stable after the show....

.....and a lovely Suffolk Punch.